Keynotes

Bio: Sue M. Gordon is regarded as one of the most accomplished leaders in the history of national security, having served as the country’s number two ranking intelligence official and a trusted advisor to our nation’s key decision makers. As the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI), she co-led the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and oversaw the entire Intelligence Community (IC), comprised of over a dozen agencies that collect information on threats against the United States. In particular, Gordon’s transformative leadership focused on integrating intelligence across the organization, expanding outreach and partnerships, driving innovation, and advancing diversity and inclusion throughout the Community.

The big picture: As our industry evolves, the intersection of public and private sectors, particularly in cybersecurity and technological innovation, becomes increasingly critical. Ms. Gordon will explore the pivotal role business leaders play in safeguarding national security. She will provide actionable insights into emerging trends, highlighting potential threats and uncovering opportunities that demand the attention of today’s leaders.

Bio: Jim VandeHei is one of the most celebrated media and political thinkers of his generation. He is the co-founder and CEO of Axios, a media company designed to get people smarter, faster on politics, technology, media, and business. Axios is widely respected for its clinical, unbiased exclusive reporting and analysis, and widely read by top political leaders, CEOs, and leading media figures. As CEO, VandeHei overhauls traditional media business with a forward-thinking approach that matches the way viewers consume news in the 21st century.

The big picture: With the changing administration and its political impact on industries like ours, we’ve invited Jim to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex political challenges facing the United States. He will offer an in-depth analysis of these trends and their implications for industries like ours.

Bio: Kenneth Hibbard received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, and his M.S. in Systems Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University. He has worked at APL for ~21 years, and at the Goddard Space Flight Center for 8 years prior, specializing in project systems engineering and the design, development, and implementation of robotic space missions. He has served on numerous flight missions including ACE, SOHO, Swift, MESSENGER, and New Horizons and has led the formulation of various NASA proposals and concepts, including Europa Clipper, the Titan Mare Explorer (TiME), and the Io Volcano Observer (IVO). Mr. Hibbard has previously supported radioisotope power system development efforts led by NASA GRC, various hypersonic and entry, descent, and landing (EDL) technology development efforts for both NASA and DoD, acted as the Deputy Program Development Manager at APL for Civil Space, and supervised APL’s Space Systems Engineering Group.

The big picture: Ken will take us on a fascinating deep dive into Dragonfly—NASA’s ambitious mission to send a robotic rotorcraft, or drone, to explore the surface of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. This session will highlight design considerations and environmental challenges involved in leveraging uncrewed systems technology for such an extraordinary mission. From a technical perspective, it offers insights into cutting-edge engineering challenges, while also showcasing the broader potential of uncrewed systems for exploration and innovation across industries.

Bio: Michael Robbins is President and CEO of AUVSI and a U.S. Navy Reserve Officer.

The big picture: In 2025, new challenges and opportunities are facing the uncrewed systems and autonomous technology industies. Michael will share recent updates about tech integration across commercial and defense sectors and how these are driving industry-wide growth and innovation.